Marking device



Dec. 15, 1953 I. S. GOTTSCHO MARKING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JII uiimn:

2 z u I I HIT R/VEV Dec. 15, 1953 1. s. GOTTSCHO 2,662,469

MARKING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Aw S 6077-5010 Dec. 15, 1953 5. GOTTSCHQ 2,662,469

MARKING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Aw ST 60 r rn o Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARKING DEVICE Ira S. Gottscho, Milburn, N. J., assignor to Adolph Gottscho, Inc.,

ration of New York Hillside, N

. J., a corpo- Applicaticn May 26, 1951, Serial No. 228,459

18 Claims.

wrap the web, strip or strand around a central, hollow, tubular core, and in order to identify the material or its source mark ngs are usually applied to the exposed interior surface of the tubular core. Machines that have heretofore been available are not capable of eiiiciently printing the desired markings on the interior surface of such tubular cores and, therefore, the markings have been either applied to gummed label strips which are then secured in the core by a separate operation, or the markings are applied to the material from which the core is formed while such material is fiat and before it is manipulated into a tubular form.

Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an efiicient and simple device for applying markings to the interior surfaces of tubular cores or similar articles.

Another object is to provide a device, preferably operating on the offset printing principle, for applying printed matter to the interior surfaces of tubular cores or similar articles of relatively small internal diameter.

Another object resides in the provision of a device, preferably operating on the rotary offset printing principle, for applying printed matter to the interior surfaces of tubular cores or similar articles, wherein the rotary printing element or cylinder is repeatedly moved axially between an inking station, at which an ink impression is applied to the printing element, and a printing station, at which the element extends into the interior of a rctatably supported tubular core or similar article to transfer the ink impression to the latter so that the mechanism for applying the ink impression to the printing element is remote from the tubular core being printed and the radial dimension of the printing element is the only factor determiinng the minimum diameters of the tubular cores or similar articles that may be printed.

Another object resides in the provision of a de vice, preferably operating on the rotary offset printing principle, of the character heretofore indicated, which is constructed and arranged so that the printing element is not in contact with either the ink impression applying mechanism or the article being printed during axial moveother article to be ments thereof, to thereby prevent smearing of the ink or blurring of the printed impression.

Still another object resides in the provision of a device, preferably operating on the rotary olfset printing principle, of the character heretofore described, which includes a driving roller engageable with the article at the printing station for rotating such articles and for holding the latter at the printing station, and wherein the driving roller is so arranged and mounted as to periodically move to a release the printed article may be easily replaced by anprinted.

A further object is to provide a marking device accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a marking device which comprises a frame, a rotary printing element ing roller at the inking station, a support for rotatably carrying a tubulr article at the printing station in position to receive the printing element in, the interior thereof, the printing element having a raised portion at the circumference for engagement with a printing plate on the ink impression applying roller at the inking station and with the tubular article at the printing station so that the the circumference, other than the raised portion, face toward the ink impression the article, a driving roller at the printing station, a rockable support for the driving roller to move the latter into and out of engagement with an article at the printing station, and synchronized means for rotating the printing element, the ink impression applying roller and the driving roller, for moving the printing element axially, and for rocking the driving roller support so that the spaced from either the ink impression applying roller or the article being printed and the driving roller is rocked out of engagement with the article during the interval when the printing element is engaged by the ink impression applying roller at the inking station.

In the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view partly broken away and in section, of a marking device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in section, of an element included in the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the marking device of Fig. 1, with a portion of the frame broken away;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the cam member effecting axial movements of the printing element in the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary top plan View of the printing element and adjacent structure of the device of Fig. 1, with the printing element moving toward the printing station;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the marking device, showing the positions of the printing element and the article driving roller during printing of the article;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the marking device showing the positions of the printing element and the article driving roller during application of the ink impression to the printing element;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line lD-ltl of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line ll-ll of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figs. 1-5 thereof, there is shown a marking device, which is merely illustrative of the present invention and is generally indicated by the reference numeral it, including a frame for supporting the various elements of the device and preferably formed of a horizontal base plate 12, two parallel vertical plates Hi and i6 extending transverseiy along the entire width of the base plate l2 and spaced from the forward edge of the latter, and a vertical front plate I8 at the forward edge of the base plate and extending substantially halfway across the latter. Spacers are secured between the vertical plates l4 and 16 at the upper corners thereof and similar spacers 22 extend between the vertical plate [5 and the front plate l8 at the upper corners of the latter so that the frame structure is suitably rigid.

All of the movements of the marking device are preferably effected by an electric motor 2 (Figs. 1 and 5), mounted upon the base plate l2 adjacent the rear thereof, and including suitable reduction gearing 25 driving a sprocket 28 (Fig. 5) which rotates about a horizontal, longitudinally extending axis. A main shaft 38 is journalled in a bearing assembly 32, carried between the vertical plates M and H5 substantially at the centers of the latter, and the main shaft extends forwardly of the plate l6 and to the rear of the plate It. A sprocket 3A is fixed on the rear end of the main shaft 35, and a chain 36 is trained over the sprockets 28 and 34 for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the main shaft.

A bearing assembly 38, shown partly broken away and in section in Fig. 1, is supported between the vertical plates 14 and It at one side of the bearing assembly 32 with its axis registering substantially with the central portion of the front plate 58. A cylindrical sleeve 0r bushing 4!] is rotatably mounted in the bearing assembly 38 and extends forwardly through the vertical plate It. Meshing spur gears 32 and G4 (Figs. 1 and 3) are fixed to the main shaft 30 and the sleeve 40, respectively, in front of the vertical plate E6 so that the sleeve will rotate in fixed relation to the main shaft. The gears 52 and M are preferably dimensioned so that the sleeve til is rotated two revolutions during each revolution of the main shaft. A shaft 46 for supporting the printing element is slidably extended through the sleeve 45 and may be either splined or keyed in the latter so as to be rotated therewith. The shaft 46 extends out of one end of sleeve fit to the rear of the plate is for engagement by a cam member, generally indicated by the numeral .8, which is fixed on the main shaft 38, and also extends out of the forward end of the sleeve to carry the printing element 56 at its forward end.

The printing element or roller 50 includes a hub 52 threadedly carrying a set screw for fixing the printing element relative to shaft 46, and a cylindrical forward portion having a raised segment 54 of increased radius extending over approximately one half of the surface (Fig. 4) to receive the off-set ink impression. A circular opening 56 (Fig. 4) is formed in the front plate It concentric to the axis of rotation of the shaft 46 and is dimensioned to loosely receive the printing element 53 when the latter is moved forwardly by the action of the cam member 48 hereinafter described in detail.

A printing station is defined at the forward face of the front plate l8, and at such station a circular bearing ring '58 is secured to the front plate substantially tangential to the raised portion 54 of the printing element. A pair of rollers 6i extend forwardly from the front plate at opposite sides of the opening 56 and are positioned to engage the inner surface of a tubular article 62, such as a core for a roll of tape, gauze or string, as shown in broken lines in Figs. 8 and 9, and rotatably support such article so that the raised portion 5:! of the printing element, when extended forwardly through the opening 55, is engageable with the inner surface of the supported article (Fig. 8).

As seen in Fig. 10, each of the rollers 5c is rotatably mounted on an eccentric portion of an adjustable support bolt 5i mounted rotatably on the front plate iii. The adjustable eccentric bolts 6| provide for either raising or lowering the related rollers til at the opposite sides of the opening 53 so that the contact of the printing element 5E3 with a tubular article supported on the rollers Ell may be conveniently varied.

In order to drive or rotate the article (52 at the printing station, and to resist the upward pressure of the printing element during the printing phase of the operation of the marking device, an assembly as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing is provided. This assembly includes a bell-prank having angularly related arms 64 and 56 and formed with hollow bosses 68 and H3 at the junction of the arms and midway along the arm 64, respectively, as well as a tubular ex-- tension l2 at the free end of the arm (34. A stub shaft 1 2 (Fig. 2) extends at one end in to the boss 63 and is mounted at its other end in a bushing it carried by the vertical plate It substantially below and in line with the main shaft 38. A spur gear 13 is rotatable on the stub shaft 14 between the boss to and the forward face of plate It and meshes with the gear 42 on the main shaft 36. An idler spur gear 80 is rotatably mounted on the boss 10 and meshes with the gear is as well as with a gear 82 fixed on the rear end of a shaft 84 which is journalled in the tubular extension l2 at the end of the arm 64. A driving roller 85 is fixed to the forward end of the shaft 84 and the front plate is is formed with a vertically elongated opening 238 (Fig. i) through which the forward portion of tuhuiar extension l2 projects to position the driving roller in front of the plate is for engagement with the inner surface of a tubular article (Fig. 8).

The shaft 38 and gear 42 in the illustrated embodiment, as viewed from the front of the device (Figs. 3, l and 5), are rotated in a clockwise direction and, therefore, the printing element 55 and the driving roller are both rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and the several gears heretofore described are dimensioned so that the peripheral speed of the printing element at the raised portion iii of the surface thereof is the same as the peripheral speed of the driving roller 855. Thus, the driving roller when in operative position (Fig. 8) drives a tubular article if at a speed at the inner surface thereof equal to the peripheral speed of. the raised portion of the printing element which is engageaole with such inner surface so that there will he no blurring of the printed impression by reason of relative movement between the printing element and the surface the article being marked.

The bell brank is continuously and resiliently urged in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, by a tension spring 9i] secured at one end to the arm 6d and at its other end to a pin or other suitable fixed support 92 which may be mounted on the rear face of the front plate it below the arm E l. Thus, the driving roller $35 is resiliently urged downwardly into contact with the inner surface of the tubular article or core to hold the article on the supporting rollers Gel and to resist the pressure of the printing element which acts on the article in an opposite direction. In order to provide periodic rocking of the bell crank for movement of the driving roller 8E3 away from the inner surface of an article at the printing station so that the article may be easily and conveniently replaced after it has been marked, a radial cain (Figs. 1, 3 and 9 is fixed on the main shaft and the periphery of such cam is engaged by a cam follower, in the form of a roller carried by the free end of the arm 6&3. The cam s4 is formed with a radially extended portion, which, when engaged by the roller rocks the bell crank in a ciockwise direction to raise the driving roller and release the tubular article or core. The angular position of the cam on the main shaft to and the angular extent of the radially extended portion thereof are related to the configuration of the cam so that the driving roller til is moved to its inoperative or released position (Fig. 9) vhen the printing element moves axially to the rear to its inking position and so that the driving roller is returned to its operative and driving position (Fig. 8) when the printing ele tent returns to the printing station the raised I301"- tion as thereof engages the article being marked. The eccentric nature of the mounting of the rollers 53 further provides for the adjustment of the contact pressure between the driving roller 65 and the tubular article. 62 during the printing phase of the operating cycle.

A coil spring 93 (Fig. the. rear portion of shaft it and abuts at one end against a cover plate of the bearing assembly at the rear face of the plate l and at its other end against a shoulder or afoutinent ltl? at the rear end of the shaft it. Thus, the spring 98 is under compression and resiliently urges the shaft 46, and hence the printing element, rearwardly and away from the printing station.

The cam member i-S for controlling the axial movements of the shaft and hence of the printing element Ell. includes a central hub 92 (Figs. 5 and 63) carrying suitable set screws for securing the cam member to the main shaft 36 and a circular plate tilt extending from the hub and having a diameter so that the shaft 46 bears against the front face thereof adjacent its periphery. The cam member 53 is positioned on the main shaft Bil so that the printing element 56 is disposed at an inking station, hereinafter more specifically defined, when the rear end of the shaft lii abuts against the front face of the circular plate iild under the influence of the spring 88, as in "igs. i and 5. In order to move the shaft 16 forwardly to position the printl) is disposed around along a portion of the edge of the latter. The depth of the flange use corresponds to the distance the printing element 53 moves axially between the inking and printing stations. Thus, when the cam member is rotated from the position of Figs. 1 and 5 to register the flange with the shaft the latter is displaced forwardly to extend the printing element through the opening of the plate The opposite ends of the flange 11% are provided with inclined portions 153 and lid merging into the front face of the circular plate tilt correspond to the movements of the printing element from the inking station to the printing station and from the printing station to the ing station, respectively. The angular of the inclined end por one 568 and are related to the rotation of the either of hese inclined end portions registers with the rear end of the shaft til only when the raised portion Eid of the printing ele -lent is facing away from the article being mar printing station and away from the roll ing the ink impression at the in'iing t.

For the purpose of applying the ink impression to the printing element at the inlzing station, an ink impression applying roller H2 is to the main shaft for rotation with the latter and is formed with a diameter so that a ting plate on the periphery of the roller is engageaole with the raised portion lie of the printing element. The radii of the roller 1 l2 and the raised portion are proportional to the ratio of the to the gear as so that the engageaole su Woes of the printing plate on the roller an of the printing element move at the same peripheral speed to thereby efiect the transfer of an ink prcssiozi to the printing element without sineanng the ink. The ink supply is carried in an open reservoir I l 4 which is reinovabiy mounted on the frort of the vertical plate it to the side of plate 53. An ink supplying roller i 56 is fixed on the I I8 journalled in suitable anti-friction bearings mounted in the eccentric bore of a bearing sleeve ill carried for rotatable adjustment by the plates l4 and i6 (Fig. 11) and dips into the reservoir I M. An ink transfer roller 22, in peripheral engagement with. both the ink supplying roller i It and the ink impression applying roller H2, is fixed on a shaft I24 journalled in a manner similar to that illustrated for shaft H8, within an adjustable, eccentric bearing sleeve 25 mounted between the plates l4 and i5. A spur gear I28 is fixed on the shaft I24 and meshes with the gear I. on the main shaft, and a spur gear Hid is fixed to the shaft I lit and meshes with the gear 528 so that the transfer roller E22 and the supplying roller H6 are positively rotated in timed relation to the rotation of the main shaft 36 and hence to the rotation of the ink applying roller. The gears i213 and 3c are so dimensioned that the surface speeds thereof are the same as the surface speed of the roller I 12. While I have shown a driving arrangement for the ink supplying roller H6 which includes the gears 12% and E38, it is to be understood that the gear :39 may be omitted and the rotation of the roller H8 effected merely by its frictional engagement with the roller i22.

lhe adjustable eccentric bearing sleeves 26 and H6 provide for varying the contact pressure between the rollers HE and I22, and the sleeve E25, when angularly adjusted, is effective to vary the contact pressure between the ink transfer roller S22 and the ink impression applying roller lit. Thus, the contact pressures may be con trolled so that roller 1 l6 presses against roller i222 to doctor the ink on the latter, and so that the roller I22 has more kiss, or light, contact with the printing plate carried by the roller H2,

Although the preferred arrangement heretofore described is of the type known as an offset printed, that is, one in which the ink impression is applied to the surface of a roller which then transfers the ink impression to the article being marked, it is to be understood that the invention contemplates other printing arrangements, specifically an arrangement in which the printing element 553 carries a printing plate on its raised peripheral portion d and the roller H2 only functions as an ink applying roller to transfer ink to the surface of the printing plate when the element so is disposed at the printing station.

While the operating cycle of the marking vice embodying the present invention may be changed to vary the duration of the periods for which the printing element is disposed at the printing station and at the inking station, so long as axial movement of the printing element occurs only when the raised portion 5 thereof is facing away from the article being marked or the roller H2, as the case may be, in the illustrated embodiment the various phases of opera- L tion correspond to the angular displacement of the cam as follows:

Elie portion of the cam corresponding to the positioning of the printing element at the inking station extends over an angle of approximately 140 degrees;

The portion of the cam corresponding to the movement of the printing element from the inking station to the printing station, that is the inclined portion lot of the flange, extends over an angle of approximately 85 degrees;

lhe portion of the cam corresponding to the positioning of the printing element at the printing station, that is the straight portion of the flange lei extends over an angle of approximately 95 degrees; and

The portion of the cam corresponding to the movement of the printing element back to the inking station, that is the inclined portion Us,

8, extends over an angle of approximately 40 degrees.

Since the shaft 46 rotates at twice the speed of the shaft 38, the printing element 59 will be angularly displaced approximately 280 degrees while at the inking station, approximately degrees during movement toward the printing station, approximately degrees while at the printing station and approximately 80 degrees during its movement back to the inking station, and, as previously indicated, the printing element is positioned on the shaft 6 so that its movement toward. the inking station is completed. before the leading edge of the raised portion 54 thereof comes in contact with the ink impression applying roller l l2 and its movement toward the print ing station does not commence until the trailing edge of such raised portion clears the roller H2. With the angular displacements of the various portions of the cam ts set forth above, the establishment oi the stated relationship between the raised portion 55 and the roller H2 insures that movement of the printing element toward. the printing station will be completed before the leading edge of such raised portion comes in contact with the article being marked and that axial movement of the printing element in the direction returning the latter to its inking station does not commence until the trailing edge of the raised portion is clear of the article being marked.

From the above it is apparent that the present invention provides a marking device, preferably of the rotary off-set printing type, for marking the inner surfaces of tubular members, such as cores for various tapes, gauze, string or twine, wherein the ink impression applying roller is posi tioned at an inking station remote from the printing station and the printing element is periodically moved axially between the inking station and the printing station in a manner to prevent smearing oi the ink on the printing element as well as blurring of the printed impression; and further wherein the device includes a driving or feeding roller engageable with the tubular article at the printing station during the printing phase of the operational cycle of the device to rotate the article being printed at the same speed at its inner surface as the surface speed of the printing element and moving away from the article when the printing element is retracted to the inking station to permit easy replacement of the article.

Having described an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise structure thereof as obviously numerous changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising means for rotatably supporting a tubular article at a printing station; a rotating printing element of segmental configuration movable axially between said printing station, at which it is peripherally engageable with th inner surface of a tubular article there supported, and an inking station remote from said printing station; inking means peripherally engageable with said printing element at said inking station to apply ink to said element; and means reciprocating said segmental printing element axially between said printing and inking stations when said printing element is angularly positioned away from the tubular article and inking means, respectively.

'2. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising means for rotatably supporting a tubular article at a printing station. a rotating printing element ofsegmental configuration movable axially between said printin station, at which it extends into tubular article there supported for peripheral engagement with the inner surface of the latter, and an inking station remote from said printing station; inking means peripherally engageable with said printing element at said inking station for applying ink to said element; means reciprocating said segmental printing element axially between said printing and inking stations when said printing element is angularly positioned away from the tubular article and printing means, respectively; and a driving roller engageable with a tubular article at said printing station for rotating the article so that the speed at the inner surface of the latter is the same as the peripheral speed of the rotating printing element.

3. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising means for rotatably supporting a tubular article at a printing station; a rotating printing element of segmental configuration movable axially between said printing station, at which it extends into a tubular article there supported for peripheral engagement with the inner surface of the latter, and an inking station remote from said printing station; inking means peripherally engageable with said printing element at said inking station for applying ink to said element; means reciprocating said segmental printing element axially between said printing and inking stations when said printing element is angularly positioned away from the tubular article and printing means, respectively; and a driving roller engageahle with the inner surface of a tubular article at said printing station and positioned to contact such inner surface along a line substantially diametrically opposed to the contact line of said printing element with the article for opposing the contact pressure of said printing element and for rotating the article so that the speed at the inner surface of the latter is the same as the peripheral speed of the rotating printing element.

4. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising means for rotatably supporting a tubular article at a printing station; a rotating printing element of segmental configuration movable axially between said printing station, at which it extends into a tubular articl there supported for peripheral engagement with the inner surface of the latter, and an inking station remote from said printing station; inking means peripherally engageable with said printing element at said inking station for applying ink to said element; reciprocating said segmental printing element axially between said printing and inking stations when said printing element is angularly positioned away from the tubular article and printing means, respectively; a driving roller engageable with the inner surface of a tubular article at said printing station along a contact line substantially diametrically opposed to the contact line between said printing element and the article; and mounting means for said driving roller displaced in coordination with said means reciprocating said printing element to move said driving roller away from the inner surfac or" the article when said element is moved fit printing station,

10 to said inking station thereby permitting replacement of the article.

5. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising means for rotatably supporting a tubular article at a printing station; a rotating printing element formed with a radially raised portion and supported for peripheral engagement of said raised portion with the inner surface of the article, and an inking station remote from said printing station; inking means peripherally engageable with said raised portion of said element at said inking station for applying ink to such raised portion; and means reciprocating said printing element axially between said inking and printing stations and being coordinated with the rotation of said priting element so that axial movement of the latter is effected only when said raised portion is angularly disposed to be disengaged from said inking means as well as from the inner surface of the article.

6. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising means for rotatably supporting a tubular article at a printing station; a rotating printing element formed with a radially raised portion and movable axially between said printing station, at which it extends into a tubular article there supported for peripheral engagement of said raised portion with the inner surface of the article, and an inking station remote from said inking means peripherally engageable with said raised portion of the printing element at said inking station for applying ink to said raised portion; means coordinated with the rotation of said printing element and reciprocating the latter axially between said inking and printing stations so that axial movement of said element is eifected only when said raised portion is angularly disposed to be disengaged from said inking means as well as from the article; and a driving roller engageable with a tubular article at said printing station for rotating the article so that the speed at the inner surface thereof is the same as the peripheral speed of the raised. portion of the rotating printing element.

7. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising means for rotatably supporting a tubular article at a printing station; a rotating printing element formed with a radially raised portion and movable axially between said printing station, at which it extends into a tubular article there supported for peripheral engagement of said raised portion with the inner surface of the artiole, and an inking station remote from said printing station; inking means peripherally engageable with said raised portion of the printing element at said inking station for applying ink to said raised portion; means coordinated with the rotation of said printing element and axially reciprocating the latter between said inking and printing stations so that axial movement of said element is effected only when said raised portion thereof is angularly disposed to be disengaged from said inking means as well as from the article; and a driving roller engageable with the inner surface of a tubular article at said printing station along a contact line diametrically opposed to the line of contact of said raised porion with the inner surface of the article for opposing the contact pressure of the printing element against the article and for rotating the latter so that the speed at the inner surface of the article is the same as the peripheral speed of the raised portion of said printing element.

8. A rotary printing device according to claim '7, including a rockable support for said driving roiler, and actuating means for said support coordinated with said means axially reciprocating said printing element to rock said support to a position spacing said driving roller from the inher surface of a tubular article at said printing station when said printing element is moved axially to said inking station so that the tubular article may be easily replaced.

9. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising a frame, a shaft journalled in said frame and carrying a printing element of segmental configuration at one end thereof, said shaft being axially movable relative to said frame to effect axial movements of said element between a printing station and an inking station, inking means at said inking station for peripheral engagement with said printing element, means on said frame for rotatably supporting a tubular article at said printing station in position to be engaged at its inner surface by the periphery of said printing element, means rotating said shaft, cam means coordinated with said rotating means and acting against the other end of said shaft to intermittently eflect axial movement of the latter in one direction when said segmental printing element is angularly positioned away from the tubular article and said inking means, and spring means engaging said shaft continuously urging the latter axially in the opposite direction.

10. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising a frame, a main shaft journalled in said frame, means rotating said main shaft, an axially mov able shaft journalled in said frame and carrying a segmental printing element on one end to move axially between a printing station and an inking station, means transmitting the rotation of said main shaft to said axially movable shaft, inking means peripherally en ageable with said printing element at said inking station for applying ink to the periphery of said element, means on said frame for rotatably supporting a tubular article at said printing station in position to be engaged at its inner surface by the periphery of said printing element, spring means continuously urging said axially movable shaft in the direction of said inking station, and cam means carried by said main shaft and engaging said axially movable shaft to intermittently move the latter in opposition to said spring means for displacing said printing element to said printing station when said printing element is angularly positioned away from the tubular article and said inking means.

11. A rotary printing device according to claim 10, including a driving roller at said printing station engageable with the inner surface of a tubular article supported thereat, and means driven by said main shaft rotating said driving roller so that the linear speed at the inner surface of an article engaged by the latter is the same as the peripheral speed of said printing element.

12. A rotary printing device according to claim. 10, including a driving roller engageable with the inner surface of a tubular article supported at said printing station along a contact line substantially diametrically opposed to the line of contact of said printing element with such inner surface, a rockable arm pivoted on said frame and carrying said driving roller, spring means acting on said arm to continuously urge said roller against the inner surface of an article at said printing station so that said roller opposes the contact pressure of said printing element, gear means driven by said main shaft and rotating said driving roller so that the inner surface of the tubular article is moved at the same speed as that at the periphery of said printing element, and cam means on said main shaft intermittently rocking said arm to move said roller way from the tubular article when said printing element is displaced axially to said inking station so that the tubular article may be easily replaced.

13. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces of tubular articles comprising a frame, a main shaft journalled in said frame, means rotating said main shaft, an axially movable shaft journalled in said frame and carrying a printing element on one end to move axially between a printing station and an inking station, said printing element including a radially raised segment, means driven by said main shaft and rotating said axially movable shaft, an ink applying roller rotatable with said main shaft to one side of said axially movable shaft at said inking station and peripherally engageable with said raised segment when said printing element is disposed at said inking station, means on said frame for rotatably supporting a tubular article at said printing station in position to be peripherally engaged at its inner surface by said raised segment of the printing element, spring means acting on said axially movable shaft for continuously urging the latter to a position disposing said printing element at said inking station, and a cam member fixed on said main shaft and engageable with said axially movable shaft, said cam member being formed to reciprocate said main shaft for moving said printing element between said inking and printing stations and so that such axial movement occurs only when said raised segment of the printing element is angularly positioned to be disengaged from both said ink applying roller and the tubular article.

14. A rotary printing device according to claim 13, including a driving roller supported at said printing station and rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said printing element, said driving roller being engageable with the inner surface of a tubular article at said printing station, and means driven by said main shaft rotating said driving roller so that the tubular article is rotated at a linear speed at its inner surface the same as the peripheral speed of said raised segment of the printing element.

15. A rotary printing device according to claim 13, including a driving roller, a rookable member pivoted on said "frame and rotatably supporting said driving roller at said printing station in position to engage the inner surface of a tubular article supported at the printing station along a contact line substantially diametrically 0pposed to the line of contact of said raised segment with the inner surface, spring means constantly urging said member to rock in the direction engaging said driving roller against the inner surface of the article so that said driving roller resists the contact pressure of said raised segment against the article, means driven by said main shaft rotating said driving roller at a peripheral speed the same as the peripheral speed of said raised segment, and a cam member on said main shaft actuating said member and rocking the latter when said printing element is disposed at said inking station to disengage said driving roller from the inner surface of the article so that the latter may then be easily replaced.

16. A rotary printing device according to claim 13, including an ink reservoir mounted on said frame, an ink supplying roller journalled in said frame and dipping into said reservoir, an ink transfer roller journalled in said frame and peripherally contacting said ink applying roller axially through said opening between said printing station, at which it extends into a tubular article there supported for peripheral engagement of said raised segment with the inner surplying ink to said element; means reciprocating said printing element axially between said print=- ing and inking stations when said raised segment is angularly disposed away from the tubular article and said inking means, and a driving roller engageable with the inner surface of a tubular stantially diametrically opposed to the line of contact of said printing element with the article for opposing the contact pressure of said printing element and for rotating the article so that the speed at the inner surface of the latter is the same as the peripheral speed of the rotating printing element.

18. A rotary printing device for marking the inner surfaces or tubular articles as set forth in claim 1'7, including means mounting said support rollers on said support plate and adjustable IRA S. GOTTSCHO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,487,591 Nagy Mar. 18, 1924 1,723,785 Johnson Aug. 6, 1929 1,908,011 Casto et al. May 9, 1933 2,065,694 Hatcher Dec. 29, 1936 

